The National Museum of Qatar has today opened its doors to the public, celebrating the culture, heritage and future of the Persian Gulf state and its people. For Arup, the opening is the culmination of an 11-year collaborative relationship with architect Jean Nouvel in turning this remarkable, world-class design into reality.
Arup provided a range of services for this highly complex project, including structural, geotechnical, mechanical, electrical and public health engineering design, vertical transportation, fire strategy, civil engineering, facilities access and management, IT and communications design, security consulting, LEED strategy and accreditation processes.
Constructed on either side of the newly restored historic Royal Palace, the design is a significant departure from ordinary engineering practice and combines ambitious modern architecture with complex analysis.
The design is inspired by the desert rose sand formations, the complicated form comprises over 500 intersecting horizontal and vertical discs, stitched together to create a complete structure. The steel discs are all formed from the same ‘family’ of shapes and create the structural roof, walls and floors of the building.
